The Town of Hempstead's Department of Planning and Economic Development administers the federally funded Community Development Program. To date, $165 million has been approved to finance several programs that were developed in the town and approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The office also acts as an information center, collecting and collating data on which policy-making decisions are based. Its staff of professional planners maintains communications with other jurisdictions, so that the town can correlate its programs and projects with village, county, state and regional planning agencies.
The department's Senior Citizen Home Improvement Program provides interest-free loans of up to $15,000 to qualified senior citizen homeowners to assist with weatherization, exterior improvements, window, door and/or roof replacement and emergency repairs to their homes. Approximately 3,000 senior households have benefited under this program. The Physically Challenged Home Improvement Program provides grants to homeowners in which a household member is permanently physically challenged and requires handicapped accessibility as provided under federal ADA regulations. Direct grants of up to $20,000 are given to qualified residents so they may eliminate material or architectural barriers that restrict mobility or accessibility within the home. Applications for both home-improvement programs may be obtained by contacting the Town of Hempstead Department of Planning & Economic Development at 516-538-7100.